Trustee

TRUSTEE
RECRUITMENT PACK
2026

CHAIR’S WELCOME

Thank you so much for thinking about joining SV2’s board.

We’re proud to be Derbyshire’s specialist support for all survivors
and victims of sexual assault and abuse, whoever they are and
whenever the abuse happened. We’re a medium-sized charity with
big ambitions and are excited for our board members to share their
passion, skills and experience to help us achieve that.

The next few years are an exciting time for SV2, as changes in the
way we deliver services and the increased government commitment
to address Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) including
males. This will be delivered against a background of quality and
great local relationships.

You’ll be joining an established board, which oversees an
organisation with a committed and skilled workforce, accredited
services and an experienced senior management support team.

If you have any questions or would like to speak about the roles,
please feel free to contact our CEO, Rachel Morris.

I’ll leave you with the voice of one of our clients, which reminds us
why we do what we do.

“SV2 HELPED ME TO OVERCOME THE GUILT I FELT

LETTING MY DAUGHTER DOWN BY NOT PROTECTING

HER AND HAS PROVIDED A SAFE SPACE TO TALK

WITHOUT JUDGEMENT”

“Thank you all so much for giving my daughter back to me. It’s good to
know that if we need further help in the future the door will still be open”

We look forward to hearing from you, Helen Greig, Chair of Trustees

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ABOUT SV2

WE SUPPORT

WE PREVENT

SV2 (originally known as Derbyshire
Rape Crisis) is Derbyshire’s leading
charity focused on supporting the
victims and survivors of sexual abuse
and their families to inform, support,
protect and empower them.

SV2 works to prevent and raise
awareness of rape and sexual abuse
and their effects through training
and education programmes across
the county.

WE RAISE AWARENESS

SV2 supports all genders from any age regardless of when their experience of
sexual abuse occurred and whether they have reported the crime to police or not.
We do not work with perpetrators.

Our Track Record…
Between April 2024 and March 2025, we supported 4,145 children, young people
and adults across Derbyshire through therapy, practical and emotional support.
Through our Learning and Development Officers, 6051 adults, children including
other professionals were reached.

How We Are Funded…
Our funding partners include the Office of Derbyshire Police and Crime
Commissioner, Children in Need, the National Lottery Community Fund,
Ministry of Justice, NHS England and Integrated Care Boards.

How We Are Governed…
SV2’s work is overseen by a Board of Trustees which has responsibility for
ensuring the charity delivers its aims of:
•  Reducing the impact of rape and sexual abuse on victims (all genders) and their families
•  Encouraging reporting of rape and sexual abuse

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SEXUAL VIOLENCE SIMPLY
SHOULDN’T EXIST AND NO
ONE SHOULD DEAL WITH IT
ALONE.

Whilst sexual abuse exists, we’ll be here to
support and empower the victims, inform
the public and protect future generations.

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OUR STRENGTHS

SV2 is the charity of choice due to our experience and expertise
within this field. We have a breadth of knowledge and experience
working with people affected by all forms of sexual abuse.

We first became a registered charity in 1994 known as Derbyshire Rape Crisis, initially
offering counselling services. We have since expanded our services and became SV2 –
Supporting Victims of Sexual Violence in 2010/2011.

OUR OBJECTIVES

•  To help relieve the suffering
   and distress of persons who
   have been raped or sexually
   abused.

•  To advance the education of
   the public in the subject of
   rape and sexual abuse and
   their effects.

“Thank you for all your

support and fantastic words

of wisdom, but especially for

being by my side in court.

I can’t thank you enough!”

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DELIVERING OUR
VALUES & OBJECTIVES

Inform. Support. Protect. Empower.

We provide education and information services across our local communities and to fellow
professionals.
•  Consent workshops are delivered to young people in year 9 and  above in a variety
    of educational settings across Derbyshire. We believe that understanding consent
    helps to form healthy relationships and dispels societal myths about sexual abuse
    and rape
•  Training and awareness sessions (registered with the CPD Certification Service) are
    delivered to professionals to increase their understanding of the impact of abuse and
    rape and feel more confident when responding to disclosures. This includes but is not
    limited to GP surgeries, social care staff, trainee police officers, and educational teams
•  We attend a wide range of events to raise awareness of the work we do and
    share information about the issues around sexual abuse and violence

We provide a range of support services which are available to people of all ages and
genders regardless of when the assault/abuse occurred or whether they have disclosed
to police.
•  We are available for enquiries from public and professionals over the phone Monday
    to Friday 9am - 5pm
•  Counselling and Therapy services delivered by trained professionals
•  Children and Young People’s therapy
•  ISVA (Independent Sexual Violence Advisor) is available to both adults and children
    who have been the victim of rape, sexual assault or abuse. There is a vast range of
    support that an ISVA/CHISVA can offer, but their main role is to provide emotional
    and practical support whether that be providing a safe space to talk, finding a place
    of safety or support through the criminal justice system
•  An extensive online resource library is available on the SV2 website

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•  SV2 is a charity
    commissioned by
    Derbyshire Police and
    Crime Commissioner
    and the Ministry of Justice
    to provide emotional and
    practical support from
    Independent Sexual
    Violence Advisers (ISVAs)
    for adults and CHISVA
    (Children’s Independent
    Sexual Violence Advisor).
    We work in partnership with
    the police but independently
    in order to advocate for
    anyone who accesses our
    services.

•  Victims can make an
    anonymous report via SV2 -
    providing as much
    information as they are
    comfortable with. This
    information is then passed
    on to Derbyshire
    Constabulary for inclusion
    in their intelligence
    database. If similar details
    are identified at any time,
    the police will then contact
    SV2 and ask us to share this
    with the victim so that they
    can then decide whether
    they wish to make a full
    report to police.

•  SV2 is commissioned
    through Sexual Assault
    Referral Centres (SARC) to
    provide a fast track therapy
    service for adults and
    children who have been
    raped or sexually assaulted
    across Derbyshire and
    Nottinghamshire.

“I feel protected and supported.

These appointments are so

important to me, they are like

gold in my diary”

Community Development
At SV2 we are always looking to ensure our services
are inclusive and accessible to everyone. Our
Community Development Officer has worked with
groups, organisations and communities throughout
Derbyshire to understand and tackle barriers that
people may have in accessing our services and ensure
the service we offer meets the needs of everyone.

Service User Involvement Forum
We want to put our clients at the heart of shaping and
improving our services and have Service User Forum.
This is an opportunity for our clients to feedback on
the support they received at SV2 and be consulted on
matters such as service provision and development,
policy and procedures and anything that impacts on
the clients accessing SV2.

Shared Experiences
Our website includes service user’s experiences with
the opportunity to share their story to resonate with
other victims and survivors and help educate and
inform the general public and professionals.

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IMPACT & OUTCOMES

Client feedback and professional evaluation highlight numerous outcomes
following the help and support provided through SV2, including:

Able to access
other services/
support
relevant to
their needs

Increased
physical health
and mental
wellbeing

Feeling more
able to cope
with everyday
life

Returning to
education or
employment

Able to
advocate their
own needs

Increased
safety &
self-awreness

0 is the worst it could be and 6 is the best

Clients accessing our AdultTherapy Services reported improvements in
Coping Mechanisms, Mental Health, Healthier Choices, Accessing Support
and isolation (all genders)

Coping
Mechanisms

Mental Health
& Psychological
Wellbeing

Healthier Choices
& Decision
Making

Accessing
Support

Isolation

Initial score

mid review score

end of service score

0 is the worst it could be and 6 is the best

Clients accessing our Children’s Therapy Service reported improvements in
Coping Mechanisms, Mental Health, Medical and Physical Health, Healthier
Choices and Accessing Support (all genders)

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

Coping
Mechanisms

Mental Health
& Psychological
Wellbeing

Health & Medical
including physical

Healthier Choices
and Decision
Making

Accessing
Support

Initial score

mid review score

end of service score

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0 is the worst it could be and 6 is the best

0 is the worst it could be and 6 is the best

Clients accessing our Adult ISVA Service reported improvements in
Outlook and Attitudes, Improved Health and Wellbeing, and Mental
Health (all genders)

Clients accessing our Childrens ISVA
Service reported improvements in Outlook
and Attitudes, Improved Health and
Wellbeing, and Mental Health
(all genders)

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

Outlook
& Attitudes

Social
Interaction

Improved Health
& Wellbeing

Feeling
Informed

Improved
Experience of CJS

Shelter &
Accomodation

Outlook &
Attitudes

Improved Health
& Wellbeing

Mental
Health

Initial score

mid review score

end of service score

Initial score

mid review score

end of service score

Our Challenges

As with the majority of the Third Sector, funding is our main challenge as we try to deliver
the same services within reduced funding envelopes. Often funding criteria is centred
around the delivery of services and neglects the management and administration costs
required. National issues and delays within the Criminal Justice System often result in SV2
‘holding’ clients for longer to ensure their safety and well-being.

Since the pandemic in 2020, there has been a significant increase in complex clients
requesting SV2 support, with mental health services regularly referring clients to SV2.
We are therefore facing increasingly lengthy waiting lists, which can contribute to
disengagement from the service.

Future Plans

Our strategic plan (2022- 2026) outlines our ambitions for further service development:
•  Obtain accreditation for our services supporting men and our prevention and education
    provision, and maintain accreditation for our existing services
•  Understand and address the barriers some groups experience in reporting sexual
    violence and in engaging with support
•  Develop our therapeutic and other services to ensure that people have access to the
    right support, at the right time, including holistic and alternative therapies
•  Develop our prevention, empowerment and education services, alongside our
    communication strategy, to ensure that awareness of rape, sexual violence and the
    issue of consent continues to increase through other professionals, communities and
    the general public
•  Be a centre of excellence for the provision of services to victims of sexual violence

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GOVERNANCE

What are Trustees?
Trustees are the volunteers who lead charities and
decide how they are run. Trusteeship is a great
way of contributing to causes you care about and
developing strategic and leadership skills at the
same time.

Anyone can be considered a trustee, regardless of
how junior or senior you are in your career, whether
you’re in paid employment or not, regardless of your
ethnicity, class, gender orientation, sexuality or any
other difference. Boards thrive when they have a
diversity of skills, knowledge, age and experience on
their board.

Being a trustee is not all about doing good for others,
it’s also about doing good for you. Most employers
are supportive of you being a trustee as they
recognise the skill development that comes with
the role.

Governance at SV2
Trustees have a vital role in the strategic direction
and governance of SV2 and we value the skills and
experience that our current board brings.

Working directly with CEO Rachel Morris and the
management team, they are the final strategic
decision makers - setting direction and providing
scrutiny and support. They also ensure that
appropriate financial, risk management and data
protection controls are in place

In addition, their role is to ensure:
•  SV2 values are core to all decision making
•  Clients are at the centre of all the charity does
•  The organisation’s vision is clear and
    implemented
•  High standards are maintained and foster an
    ethical culture

Currently trustees meet 6 times a year for 90 mins
in person, though joining online is available. These
usually take place at 5pm on the first Tuesday of
every other month.

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WHO WE ARE
LOOKING FOR?

A strong board with a breadth of
expertise is vital to support the
range of skills needed to run a
successful charity. We are looking
for people (aged 18 and above)
who must be prepared to share
their opinions and not be afraid to
be challenged while working very
closely with their fellow trustees.

We also want our Board to reflect
the community that we support.
Therefore, to enhance the diversity
of our board we would like to
hear from ethnic minorities and
marginalised groups and we are
interested to hear from those with
lived experience (directly, or through
family, or friends) of the areas we
support.

Charity or trustee experience is not
required for all posts. Where it is,
these are identified. Training for
trustees will be provided (including
safeguarding). You will also have the
opportunity to be elected as Chair
irrespective of your background or
experience.

We are specifically looking for
individuals with skill sets in:
•  Treasurer (current postholder
    retiring)
•  Therapy Management
•  Marketing and Communications
•  Fundraising
•  Experience of working for the
    police or public protection in the
    RASSO (Rape And Serious Sexual
    Offences), field

We are keen to recruit new trustees who

can support the future development of

SV2 at what is an exciting but challenging

time for our charity.

HOW TO APPLY

Our recruitment process is deliberately robust as we want to make sure you have all the
information you need to be confident in your application for the post. We are determined
to have an extremely strong Board of Trustees and believe our recruitment process
helps to achieve this.

Stage

Apply

Send your CV and answers to these questions to Rachel.morris@sv2.org.uk

- What is your understanding of the impact of sexual abuse?
- A short summary of your working career and relevant experience
   (no more than 1 page of A4)

Interview

Interview with at least one trustee and the CEO

Shadow
A Board
Meeting

Attend a board meeting to help both yourself and trustees decide
whether to progress your application

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TRUSTEE RECRUITMENT PACK 2023

Find out more today by checking our website: www.sv2.org.uk